Posted by EdwardTLC

UPDATE: You can see the cover of the EW magazine, which features a newer photo of Dan Radcliffe as Harry and an old photo of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort here in our galleries.

Entertainment Weekly has released a new list which ranks their Twenty All-Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture. Among the list of Pop Culture Heroes is none other than The Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter, who is ranked in fourth place. The young wizard joins the ranks of such other heroes as Dirty Harry, Captain James T. Kirk, Spider-Man, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Indiana Jones, and James Bond. Entertainment Weekly writes the following of the character of Mr. Potter:

4. HARRY POTTER

WHY HIM: Orphaned, cast out, and in the throes of adolescent hormonal revolt, J.K. Rowling’s boy wizard (played by Daniel Radcliffe on screen) is the embodiment of the corny bumper sticker: Why be normal?

MOST HEROIC MOVE: Obliterating Voldemort by deploying his secret weapons: love, loyalty, and the good ol’ Expelliarmus.

Update 2: Thanks to TLC reader Lara, we received word (and scan, available in our galleries) that the recently published issue of Entertainment Weekly featured another listing, ranking the Twenty Scariest Villains. Evil Lord Voldemort made the list at number eight, with EW saying the following of Tom Riddle:

WHY HIM: Cruel with no hope of redemption, Harry Potter’s nemesis (Ralph Fiennes in the films) is an old-school unrepentant, power-hungry, control-freak. But his loathing for anyone who doesn’t meet his definition of “normal” is utterly of the moment.

Courtney Quirke says: EXPELLIARMUS!penguin1124 says: This is pretty awesome. Harry Potter got beaten by James Bond, Superman and Indiana Jones, all kick ass characters!cryospear says: I completely agree with the first couple characters. Although I would argue that some on this list are more interchangable.Niphai says: Yeah.. Expeliarmus is awesome xD
ravenclawguy1972 says: Damn! harry beat out some serious heavy weights! he ranked higher that batman, Spiderman, Kirk, Bauer, Mad Max and even Dirty harry :Oscarletti1 says: Glad to know Harry made the top 5. :) I think it's also important to not that he beat Voldemort with his loved ones, and that kind of action promotes love, trust, and bravery, not being afraid to do things alone... and that the benefits of being alone are always the best. ;)cheeserpleaser says: I personally would have to say that Harry is a much richer and rounder character than the others that joined him.spicefan1978 says: I agree, there is more depth to his character. Well deserved honor. Deserves to be in the top 5!maera-kyrie says: Absolutely. :DSidish_black6 says: Great. . . . HP has done it again. . . . :)
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Harsh. lol.hpfan20 says: Pretty awesome. J.K Rowling should feel honored that Harry is among such well-known characters in pop culture.The Hollow says: Glad both Harry and Buffy are in the top 20 list...both are very cool, true heroes whom had to overcome great trials and leadership; not to mention having to lose loved ones to the cost of the world.ele0206 says: GREAT! Actually I didn't like the part "misses his mommy and daddy", but it's otherwise ok..AutumnWizard says: Cool Agreedtinagin says: Yeah! Woohoo. A total hero, but I too was put off by the "misses his mommy and daddy" thing. Whatever!Mr. Brightside says: Americans and the constant use of the word "cool"... Good he's in and so high but i don't consider this list as a great one. ET and many other magazines make lists like this every year so..., maybe we'll see one next year again. It's just a magazineHPNAIV says: He's MY number one hero :)
Wow. That was cheesy.
But true. LOL :DHermioneRon4ever says: Awesome! I love the "Most Heroic Move" part <3BeAchL0veEr05 says: 1. Happy that he's on the list
BUT (of course I have to complain! :P)
2. Misses his Mommy and Daddy? I didn't think that was Harry's biggest weakness! In my opinion, it doesn't even seem like he cared that much!
3. "Is the embodiment of the corny bumper sticker: Why be normal?" What!?! it's not like he chose to be an outcast or something, and of all the wonderful things you can put about Harry, they say "Why be normal?" is a way to describe him???!!??? Arg!
4. Not sure if anyone has ever heard of those Clique books (a.k.a. books about mean, rich people)- but isn't that more of a pop culture thing? The pop-ular culture, like things that most teens like? Harry Potter is an amazing book about a wizard- is that really considered pop(ular) culture? :/
5. "And the good 'ol Expelliarmus"!!! Lol
6. I wish Harry was #1 on the list, and that they gave him a better description!
K, I'm done now :Dmissskye says: YES!!!!!!jonfrog says: glad harry is on the list but i was surprised not to have seen the master chief (nerdy i know but aren't we all nerds in some way?).
AccioAmanda says: Yay Harry! (How is Superman in front of him? Harry IS Superman! Haha.)
What's up with the "misses his mommy and daddy"?orangeisthenewiloveyou says: this is awesome, but Batman is #18?! that's ridiculous! Batman is much more of a beast than that. he should be a lot higher ranked. i definitely do no think that Nancy Drew deserves to beat Batman.Garden State Geek says: Growing up watching Sean Connery as James Bond ... Well, you just can't beat the Sean Connery version. Drives an Astin Martin. Licensed to kill. Gets all the ladies. Drinks martinis (shaken, not stirred). The 1960s James Bond would never spit out pumpkin juice on his robes because he saw a cute girl.
I swear, in one of his movies, he takes off his diving suit, and he's wearing a tux underneath. Nope. Harry Potter is a boy. James is man. Now where is Miss Moneypenny? half-blood-queen says: The top four is my all-time favourite characters!!:D I just knew James Bond was number one before I even got half way through the list! I love James Bond, and Superman, and Indy Jones and of course Harry Potter, my top four. :DJennifer Potts says: Lmao, "and the good ol' Expelliarmus." :D
GO HARRY!Garden State Geek says: Can you imagine James Bond as a wizard? Oh, I'm getting chills just thinking about it. My name is Bond. Professor Bond. He'd have to teach DADA.
Or he could be an auror.
I'm gonna have to take a sedative. cghambright says: Harry should be NUMBER ONE!! And missing his parents is NOT a weakness. Harry's weakness is that he likes to act before thinks! But I still love him. Hermione definitely needs to be on that list. She's the brains behind the operation!Moose_Starr says: I'm always happy when HP gets into the top *however-many* of anything, it's so cool that Harry himself is #4 on this list, beating even the mighty Captain James T. Kirk. Wow ...
But, I agree with everyone that said Harry missing his parents is not a weakness. The remark was most likely written as an attempt at humor but, one of Harry's many strengths is his love for (and from) his parents. One of LVs many weaknesses was his failure to understand love, and the *ancient magic* that is love ... ErinM says: Of course we knew he deserved to be on that list!maimiaa says: when i got EW in the mail i was "omg!! it's harry! and voldy!" way neat :]LoSushi says: yay! finally harry gets more credit he totally deserves!
albeitgurggish says: Expeliarmus!!!!Zivlok says: EXXXXXPELLIARMUS!avrenim says: i'm glad he made the top 5, but like others said, the description does him barely any justice.Nick_DK says: Anyone know anything about Rhys Ifans being in the next Potter film he just said he is in it on the Jonathon Ross show or has it been confirmed and I've missed it.CatdelaCreme says: I love that he's that far up on the list! I definitely agreetaekwondochik44 says: the biggest weakness is a little harsh. of course he's going to miss them, that should be a no brainer! but awesome for him!!!! ranks up with some awesome characters!!! BuffyXO says: Daniel Ratcliffe and Ralph Fines are on the cover of the EW this week that expanded on the web version that is listed above.KimberlyZ says: lol, "why be normal?"Bradyboy says: Thats awesome.hermyone08 says: I got my Entertainment Weekly today and was so thrilled to see Harry and Voldy on the cover for favorite heroes and villians! It was a great surprise and totally made my day! Those two characters totally deserve the honors! :)weasleyalltheway says: they mean gof right? cool! awesome! fourth out of twenty, not bad at all!phantomdave79 says: Awesome!_Kayla_ says: I just got this magazine!! :)Neil in Scotland says: 4th behind Bond, Indy and Superman?? That's pretty damn good!!Livelaughlovepotter says: awww, misses his mommy and daddy :]buthagrid says: I was sooo excited when I got my EW in the mail today and saw Harry on the cover :) It was a bit of a tease though cause I thought there'd be a whole article on Harry Potter.... but Entertainment Weekly is pretty good about their Potter coverage and I'm sure we can expect another cover story soon!Shalanarah says: Ya ha! Harry Potter is COOOOL! the last one with the weakness is funny! crack me upLunabelle7 says: It's great that he's on the list...but I don't think I appreciate that "misses his mommy and daddy" comment...badger666 says: Expelliarmus! Lol.Kalin says: Long live the heroic outcasts! Expelliarmus!Noella_Mansrot says: And this is supposed to be a surprise? Of COURSE he's one of the biggest pop-culture heros, and so much more! Go Harry :)Drome says: Go, Harry, go! :DJustSuperMione says: Harry only got number 4!!!!! what were these people thinking?
But its good to know that people other than us thinks Harry's cool - I mean the boy just spent his teenage years fighting Moldy... he's definiately proven himself...DobbyandWinky says: Yay! He is on top 5!McGiggles92 says: I love the "good ol expelliarmus."vicky granger says: That's great ! "Good ol' Expelliarmus" =PKatetheKeeper says: This is really cool for Harry! But his greatest weakness? "Missing his mommy and daddy?" I think that's more of a strength...BewareoftheNargles says: GO HARRY!!!!! He deserves it for sure! And if that's his biggest weakness he is pretty amazing - cos everyone would miss their parents!Slytherin Princess101 says: Superman and Buffy cool??????????...No comment...
As for Harry, well I don't really like him, wait that's an understatement, I hate him, but to be beated by Superman, the lamest superhero of all times???? That, I didn't like cause Harry is deffinetally cooler than the dude with the rediculus thights!!!!Heavenly_Horcrux says: That's pretty cool. I love lists like these!hannah abbot says: agreed :) but Harry would be number one not james bond, Harry's way cooler :L :Psnapealicious says: Misses his mommy and daddy......... hilarious.KimberlyZ says: that's cool! fourth place is amazing!Sarabi says: Heck yes! Go Harry! :DGarden State Geek says: I think the "misses his mommy and daddy" comment is typical of these entertainment magazines, which use a sarcastic tone. These aren't fan magazines. Anyway. ;-) I'm still celebrating James Bond in the No. 1 spot. My name is Bond, James Bond. 9and3qtrs says: So glad to see two of my all time favs made the list that being Harry and Buffy. Not much of a Bond fan so I do not accept him as #1.JTEL99 says: It's cool that he made the list. HP really is a cultural phenomenon.Hedwig823 says: Of course Harry was on the list. We wouldn't have it any other way! :)ellamia says: "BIGGEST WEAKNESS: Misses his mommy and daddy." i dont think thats a weakness... hes a teenager and his parents got killed, they're not on holiday!!!!mewthree says: glad to see harrison ford twice. good harry is there and in forth place.fantasylover12001 says: Interesting list...though I do love that along with all the guys, Buffy is on there. That was one of my fav shows.callicott3 says: YIKES! Expelliarmus, indeed!mugglemom4 says: Expeliarmus is awesome. John hit the nail when he predicted that one. mugglemom4 says: Expeliarmus is awesome. John hit the nail when he predicted that one. thegoodbella says: damn straight.Kara000 says: Hell yeah he isLeander21 says: you know you have made it when you beat dirty harry :Px_Potter_Lover_Forever_x says: GO EXPELLIARMUS!!!!!!!!! ;Dstarlesswinter says: There is more depth to HARRY? Ugh, after book seven, I can't even take his character seriously anymore. He's the most passive hero pretty much ever. Throughout all of book seven, he had all his needed information just HANDED to him (Dumbledore's history, information through Snape's memories that he must die, the Hallows themselves, info on the sword from some highly convenient goblins, the actual sword, etc), and it's just frustrating that people call him a hero after all that. Sure, he made a sacrifice, but really: If the soul inside him had to be vanquished, did he really have a choice but to die after all? There are just too many "ifs" about that last book.levi-OH-sa not levio-SA says: lol "misses his mommy" love that HP makes it to these listsRosalieRickman says: Did they just recently hire Rita Skeeter to write for them? "Misses his mommy and daddy,"...
Sounds like her.